“I guess we’re both late bloomers.”

From Father Stu.

After a lifetime of fighting and messing up, boxer Stuart Long (Mark Wahlberg) is told by his doctor to change his career before boxing kills him. Initially unsure what to do going forward, Stu decides to move to Hollywood with the hopes of becoming an actor. While his mother, Kathleen (Jacki Weaver), is not thrilled about Stu moving so far away to chase another hair-brained idea, she is used to his wild plans. Unable to land any acting jobs, Stu finds himself working at a meat counter in a grocery store, hoping to meet someone that can help him get famous. However, when Stu sees the beautiful Carmen (Teresa Ruiz) hanging a church poster in the store, he goes to the church to meet the woman he’s fallen instantly in love with. While Stu has lived as an atheist since the childhood death of his brother, Carmen’s refusal to date a non-Catholic soon draws Stu in to involvement with the church so he can be baptized as a Catholic… much to the dismay of fellow parishioner, Jacob (Cody Fern). While in California, Stu reluctantly reconnects with his distant alcoholic father, Bill (Mel Gibson), who mocks Stu for his involvement at church. When Stu is involved in a devastating motorcycle accident after a strange meeting, he decides that his life was spared so that he could become a priest and begins studying at seminary. While the seminary’s Monsignor (Malcolm McDowell) is reluctant to let the rough ex-fighter in, Stu’s refusal to give up on his calling, despite a devastating medical diagnosis, provides him with an unexpected impact.

Inspired by a true story, this movie is full of humor, heart, and genuine hope. Wahlberg is engaging both as the short-tempered fighter and the dedicated priest, which is definitely the film’s driving force. The excessive language make the story real, but also unfortunately a probable turn-off for the target audience. However, even where Father Stu stumbles, it only adds to the impact of this powerful redemption story.

| Rated: R | Running Time: 124 minutes |Genre: drama/biography|

||Family Viewing||Cursing: 7* of 10|Nudity: 0 of 10|Sexuality: 0 of 10|Gore: 3 of 10

|AVAILABLE FOR HOME VIEWING|